OVERVIEW OF LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS:

Beach Poetry

Beach Poetry examines Early Morning Calm, a painting created by the American Impressionist, Childe Hassam. Hassam dedicated the painting to the poet, Celia Laighton Thaxter who lived on the island where Hassam painted this picture. Children (grades 4-7) will read and discuss Thaxter’s poem "Sandpiper" in conjunction with this painting using both for inspiration in producing and illustrating their own poems.

Words Have Meaning

Words Have Meaning focuses on the concept of interpretation as a way to understand visual art and poetry by using Alison Saar’s sculpture, Lost and Found along with Maya Angelou’s poem "Alone". Students (grades 9-12) will analyze and interpret both works, write creative prose reflecting the themes of the two works, and create a chair sculpture incorporating their individual writings.

Reading Pictures, Telling Stories

Reading Pictures, Telling Stories explores Woman in Green Sweater by the American painter Hughie Lee-Smith. Students (grades 5-10) will examine the painting for clues about the story depicted. In response, they will write and illustrate a short description about a scene either preceding OR following the scene in the painting.

 

Each lesson includes:

  • a lesson plan with objectives, an implementation strategy and assessment guidelines
  • images and information about the art work
  • brief biographies of the artist/culture
  • applicable Ohio language arts and visual arts standards
  • a glossary of terms
  • additional resources